A New Class of Uncanny X-Men

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Marvel takes a trip back to the all-new, all-different X-Men with Uncanny X-Men: First Class.

By Jesse Schedeen

Marvel never seems to have much trouble drawing in readers with its numerous X-Men books. However, X-Men: First Class seems to have struck a chord with a particular group of fans. This series has focused on an oft-ignored era of the team, providing a new glimpse at the popular mutants in an all-ages setting.

That will be coming to an end soon, as the mini-series X-Men: First Class – Finals brings the series to a close. But fear not. This isn't the last we'll be seeing of the First Class concept.

Following the conclusion of Finals, Marvel will introduce a new series called Uncanny X-Men: First Class. This new book will focus on the iconic lineup introduced in Giant-Size X-Men #1. This new series will be written by Scott Gray (Marvel Adventures Super Heroes), with X-Men: First Class artist Roger Cruz making the transition.

We sat down with Gray to find out what this new series has in store for the characters, and why Wolverine isn't exactly first on his list of priorities.

IGN Comics: Scott, what drew you to this project initially?

Scott Gray: Put simply, Uncanny X-Men: First Class equals Comic Book Heaven to me. I was about nine or ten when the "All-New X-Men" first appeared, and I clearly remember buying Uncanny #94: hey, who are all these new guys? Why are the X-Men leaving?! But the new guys were fascinating, mysterious, unpredictable! Uncanny #102 has my all-time favorite comics cover: "If Colossus should fall, Who Shall Stop the Juggernaut?" That issue turned me into a rabid X-junkie, and I stayed that way for a whole lot of years. I love these characters with a passion, and to get the opportunity to write for them in the same time period is pure Fanboy Nirvana. So thank you, editor Nate Cosby, you¹re an officer and a gentlehuman!

IGN Comics: The previous First Class series had the advantage of being set during a time period where there were no X-books being published. Is there a challenge in making this book work within the confines of Uncanny X-Men?

Gray: There¹s the issue of continuity, of course ­ we can't suddenly have Rogue or Psylocke drop by. But being set in this time also gives us opportunities that the current stories lack. There are characters in the X-Men who are no longer around today but are available in UX:FC. We can play with Banshee, and Moira MacTaggert (the best supporting character the X-Men ever had), and - drum-roll, please - Phoenix!!! Hoo-boy, that¹s going to be fun. We didn't see a lot of Phoenix working with the X-Men at the time. She's flexing her muscles here, still testing her powers ­ and she¹s not quite part of the team. Can she mesh with the X-Men, or are there fireworks ahead?

Of course, there are a few deceased heroes in the modern Marvel Universe who could also guest-star in our title, too. There's this Kree guy I'd really like to work with, for example.

Another factor to consider: there aren't any new mutants manifesting in the current Marvel continuity, but that isn't the case at the time UX:FC is set. Lots of story possibilities there!

IGN Comics: Does this series weave in and out of the events of Uncanny, or does it exist mainly on its own?

Gray: It¹s definitely part of X-Men continuity, but I don¹t want to turn the title into a masterclass in X-history. UX:FC should be accessible to anyone, be they a brand-new reader or an X-fan with decades of comics in their collection. The comic is set shortly after the X-Men get back from the M'Kraan Crystal adventure in Uncanny #107-108. It¹s a fertile time for the group. They're still learning about each other, trying to function as a team (and often failing), and slowly becoming a family. It's really the only point when the entire second generation cast are all in the same place at the same time, but we only got a glimpse of that period in the original Uncanny run. Now we've got a chance to explore it!

IGN Comics: What villains and threats will our heroes be taking on in the first few issues? Will we be seeing familiar faces, or are you introducing entirely new villains?

Gray: I've got a bunch of new villains currently swimming around in my head! I want UX:FC to have its own identity, which means some fresh faces and concepts will be coming into play. The Knights of Hykon are an interstellar threat of colossal proportions, and they're heading for Earth. The Knights have already had a devastating impact on the X-Mens' lives, but no one has realized exactly how - yet!

I also have plans for an old enemy to resurface, but with a new look and attitude. But the first challenge the X-Men will be facing isn't a villainous one at all ­ they'll be meeting the Inhumans, a superhuman group even more secretive than themselves. Their first encounter starts well, but it turns into a major culture clash ­ which leads to a catastrophic battle!

IGN Comics: Of the new team members being introduced and the few remaining X-Men, are there any that will receive a particular focus in this book? For instance, does the fact that Wolverine stars in his own First Class book make him less of a priority here?

Gray: We'll be taking a close look at all of the X-Men in time, but Wolverine does get an awful lot of coverage elsewhere, so don¹t expect to see him in the spotlight soon. The first X-Man we'll be focusing on is Nightcrawler. Kurt Wagner is one of my favorite comic characters. He's a study in contrasts ­ is he dashing, handsome, heroic? Of course he is, but in the eyes of Joe Public, he's demonic, terrifying, deadly! How Kurt copes with his isolation from humanity, particularly at this stage when he¹s new to America, is juicy territory to explore. He¹s a sensitive guy ­ what happens if his spirit gets crushed by a near-lethal rejection? Go get UX:FC #1 and you'll find out!

IGN Comics: Who will be the artist on this series?

Gray: I am deliriously happy to report that Roger Cruz, the stellar artist who gave us the beautiful visuals in the original X-Men: First Class comic, will also be handling UX:FC. Roger has a clean, dynamic, modern style which is perfect for this book, and he¹s already nailed each and every character and made them his own. I can¹t wait to see the completed first issue!

IGN Comics: The X-Men have gone through countless evolutions over the years, yet the "All-New, All-Different" era seems to be one of the most enduring incarnations of the team. What is it about this version that continues to appeal to readers?

Gray: I think there are many elements in play here. First off, you've got a group who just look so intriguing; Dave Cockrum did such a brilliant job designing these characters. And there's a kind of alchemy going on between them ­ they all have elements in common, like heavy pasts filled with tragic losses, but they're also wildly contrasting figures in so many ways; Colossus is an innocent, Wolverine a jaded cynic, Banshee a mature man of the world. There's a chemistry at work; somehow they just seem greater than the sum of their parts. It was the first time Marvel had published a comic with a completely international cast ­ Cyclops was the only American in the team and that gave them a unique flavor and made them identifiable to a worldwide audience.

IGN Comics: You've done some work in the Marvel Adventures line. Do you find it particularly challenging to work with these characters and teams in an all-ages setting? Are books like Uncanny X-Men: First Class important to offset the darker, grittier superhero books on the market?

Gray: I think it¹s vital that we continue to welcome new readers into comics whenever we can, and the Marvel Adventures and First Class titles are an important part of the equation. But the term is "All Ages", not "Kids Only". These comics should be colorful and exciting, but have a layer of sophistication to them as well ­ they can appeal to any age group. That's what the original Uncanny X-Men did, and there¹s no reason why Uncanny X-Men: First Class can't do the same. I wouldn't want to see any extreme violence in this comic anyway, because that isn't what the X-Men are about for me ­ the comic was always a journey through the imagination. It explored relationships, social themes, science fiction concepts and, of course, the really big question in life - just how do you stop the Juggernaut?